A resolution designating May 24, 2010, as "Prescription Drug Disposal Awareness Day".

Madam President, I am pleased to join my colleagues, Senator Casey and Senator Kohl, in submitting a resolution to designate May 24, 2010 as the ``Prescription Drug Disposal Awareness Day.''

The abuse of prescription narcotics such as pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives is currently the fastest growing drug abuse trend in the country. According to the most recent National Survey of Drug Use and Health, NSDUH, nearly 7 million people have admitted to using controlled substances without a doctor's prescription. People between the ages of 12 and 25 are the most common group to abuse these drugs. However, more and more people are dying because of this abuse. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that the unintentional deaths involving prescription narcotics increased 117 percent from the years 2001 to 2005. These are statistics that can no longer be ignored and tolerated.

Regretfully, we read about children dying as a result of prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse. An article from February 2009 in the Des Moines Register reports on the death of a 14-year-old Brody Middle School Student who was found dead at his home from an apparent overdose of prescription drugs. The same article reports that 85 percent of drug and alcohol overdoses at the children's emergency center at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines are from prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Millions of Americans are prescribed controlled substances every year to treat a variety of symptoms due to injury, depression, insomnia, and other conditions. Many legitimate users of these drugs often do not finish their prescriptions. As a result, these drugs remain in the family medicine cabinet for months or years because people forget about them or do not know how to properly dispose of them. However, these drugs, when not properly used or administered, are just as addictive and deadly as street drugs like methamphetamine or cocaine.

According to the NSDUH, more than half of the people who abuse prescription narcotics reported that they obtained controlled substances from a friend or relative or from the family medicine cabinet. As a result, most community antidrug coalitions, public health officials, and law enforcement officials have been encouraging people within their communities to dispose of old or unused medications in an effort to combat this growing trend.

This is also why I have cosponsored the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010. This legislation will enable the Attorney General of the United States to issue guidelines to help States and communities establish prescription drug take-back programs. Current law makes efforts to establish these programs difficult and time consuming. However, efforts to get old and unwanted medicines out of the home have shown signs of great promise to be successful if widely adopted. For example, the town of Clinton, IA, has held an annual ``Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet'' day that has collected over 300 pounds of old or unwanted medicine from the community. This is medicine that will not fall into the hands of a child or stranger or cause potential harm to any user.

It is important that we encourage people to dispose of their old or unwanted medicines so that they will not fall into the wrong hands. This is why I am pleased to be submitting this resolution and why I encourage all my colleagues to join us in raising public awareness of this important issue.

Madam President, I am pleased to join my colleagues, Senator Casey and Senator Kohl, in submitting a resolution to designate May 24, 2010 as the ``Prescription Drug Disposal Awareness Day.''

The abuse of prescription narcotics such as pain relievers, tranquilizers, stimulants, and sedatives is currently the fastest growing drug abuse trend in the country. According to the most recent National Survey of Drug Use and Health, NSDUH, nearly 7 million people have admitted to using controlled substances without a doctor's prescription. People between the ages of 12 and 25 are the most common group to abuse these drugs. However, more and more people are dying because of this abuse. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that the unintentional deaths involving prescription narcotics increased 117 percent from the years 2001 to 2005. These are statistics that can no longer be ignored and tolerated.

Regretfully, we read about children dying as a result of prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse. An article from February 2009 in the Des Moines Register reports on the death of a 14-year-old Brody Middle School Student who was found dead at his home from an apparent overdose of prescription drugs. The same article reports that 85 percent of drug and alcohol overdoses at the children's emergency center at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines are from prescription or over-the-counter medicines.

Millions of Americans are prescribed controlled substances every year to treat a variety of symptoms due to injury, depression, insomnia, and other conditions. Many legitimate users of these drugs often do not finish their prescriptions. As a result, these drugs remain in the family medicine cabinet for months or years because people forget about them or do not know how to properly dispose of them. However, these drugs, when not properly used or administered, are just as addictive and deadly as street drugs like methamphetamine or cocaine.

According to the NSDUH, more than half of the people who abuse prescription narcotics reported that they obtained controlled substances from a friend or relative or from the family medicine cabinet. As a result, most community antidrug coalitions, public health officials, and law enforcement officials have been encouraging people within their communities to dispose of old or unused medications in an effort to combat this growing trend.

This is also why I have cosponsored the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010. This legislation will enable the Attorney General of the United States to issue guidelines to help States and communities establish prescription drug take-back programs. Current law makes efforts to establish these programs difficult and time consuming. However, efforts to get old and unwanted medicines out of the home have shown signs of great promise to be successful if widely adopted. For example, the town of Clinton, IA, has held an annual ``Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet'' day that has collected over 300 pounds of old or unwanted medicine from the community. This is medicine that will not fall into the hands of a child or stranger or cause potential harm to any user.

It is important that we encourage people to dispose of their old or unwanted medicines so that they will not fall into the wrong hands. This is why I am pleased to be submitting this resolution and why I encourage all my colleagues to join us in raising public awareness of this important issue.

Mr. President, I rise today to speak about a resolution to honor our Nation's search and rescue personnel by designating May 16 through May 22, 2010, as National Search and Rescue Week.

As many of my colleagues know, I am an avid hiker and mountaineer. Over the years, I have scaled several of Washington State's majestic peaks and hiked many of our backcountry trails. Whenever I load my pack for another trip--whether for a day hike or a trip up Mt. Rainier--I, like all people who enjoy the great outdoors, take steps to prepare myself and minimize my risk. I bring my essential gear, extra food and water, and make sure someone knows my trip plan. But no amount of preparation can protect you from a misstep or unforeseen circumstance.

In such instances, it is often the swift response of trained search and rescue personnel that makes the difference between tragedy and survival. These heroes come from a broad range of agencies and organizations, including sheriff offices, police departments, national and State parks, private corporations, and all branches of the military, including the U.S. Coast Guard. All of them--whether volunteer or salaried, military or civilian--exemplify courage, commitment, and compassion in performing their duties.

Whether it is an accident in the wilderness or a natural disaster in a major city, search and rescue personnel are always ready to respond. All across our country, when people find themselves in danger, they can be thankful for the bravery and willingness to serve exhibited by these dedicated individuals.

Every day, men, women, pack animals, and search dogs put themselves in harm's way to ensure the safety and security of citizens in need. Their territory knows no bounds. Wherever the mission is, they go, sometimes for weeks at a time.

Search and rescue teams are relentless in their training. They go to great lengths to ensure they are physically and mentally fit and well versed in the newest search and rescue techniques. This preparation enables them to approach complex search and rescue situations with confidence and skill.

Their selfless dedication does not stop at our Nation's borders. Civilian search and rescue teams are ready at a moment's notice to respond to international disasters, too, including the recent earthquake in Haiti and the tsunami in Indonesia. By extending their reach around the globe to wherever there is need, search and rescue personnel have saved lives, reunited families, and boosted America's reputation abroad.

In the simplest terms, search and rescue personnel take great personal risks to come to the aid of others. Carrying out their mission often demands great personal discipline and sacrifice, and some even pay the ultimate price. This selfless commitment to others is embodied in the Search and Rescue motto: ``So that others may live.''

I ask my colleagues to stand with me today to honor the members of the search and rescue community across our Nation. Their dedication to saving the lives of citizens who are lost or injured does not waver, and neither should we in adopting this small act of recognition for their heroic efforts.

Madam President, today I submitted a resolution designating May 24, 2010, as ``Prescription Drug Disposal Awareness Day.'' May 24 would be Timothy Michael Strain's birthday. Timmy, as his family called him, died last year when he was given two painkillers that had not been prescribed for him. Through their grief, his parents Bernie and Beverly Strain have taken up the cause of safe drug disposal to make sure what happened to their son does not happen to others.

In recent years, recreational prescription drug use has grown at an alarming rate. In 2008, approximately 15,200,000 Americans 12 years of age and older reported having taken a prescription drug that had not been prescribed to them for recreational purposes in the previous year. Our children are finding these drugs in our medicine cabinets and the results can be deadly.

Apart from the tragic impact on our children, the lack of a safe place to dispose of prescription drugs is harming the environment and infiltrating our water sources. Without a place to turn in prescription drugs people are washing them down the drain where they end up in our rivers and in our drinking water.

We must work to find a safe way to dispose of prescription drugs and help make sure that what happened to Timmy Strain does not happen to any other child. I thank Senator Grassley and Senator Kohl for joining me in introducing this resolution and I encourage all my colleagues to work to ensure safe methods of prescription drug disposal are available in their States.

Madam President, today I submitted a resolution designating May 24, 2010, as ``Prescription Drug Disposal Awareness Day.'' May 24 would be Timothy Michael Strain's birthday. Timmy, as his family called him, died last year when he was given two painkillers that had not been prescribed for him. Through their grief, his parents Bernie and Beverly Strain have taken up the cause of safe drug disposal to make sure what happened to their son does not happen to others.

In recent years, recreational prescription drug use has grown at an alarming rate. In 2008, approximately 15,200,000 Americans 12 years of age and older reported having taken a prescription drug that had not been prescribed to them for recreational purposes in the previous year. Our children are finding these drugs in our medicine cabinets and the results can be deadly.

Apart from the tragic impact on our children, the lack of a safe place to dispose of prescription drugs is harming the environment and infiltrating our water sources. Without a place to turn in prescription drugs people are washing them down the drain where they end up in our rivers and in our drinking water.

We must work to find a safe way to dispose of prescription drugs and help make sure that what happened to Timmy Strain does not happen to any other child. I thank Senator Grassley and Senator Kohl for joining me in introducing this resolution and I encourage all my colleagues to work to ensure safe methods of prescription drug disposal are available in their States.